The Daily Discourse

Often we hear how government calls on big business to reach out to small business. This is normally done through procurement. But then where are SMME’s going wrong when it comes to issues of procurement and what is it they should know about it? Also how is big business assisting in helping SMME’s get their story right when it comes to this issue?

Guest: Debbie Tagg – COO of Commercial Edge

Guest: Thabo Makama – CEO of Talent Centric

Professor Mammo Muchie is of the view that all pan-Africanists should adopt the Ethiopian Calendar which he says is neither Julian nor Gregorian. He goes on to say that the Ethiopian alphabet - the Geez fidel - should be accepted as the African alphabet. Why does he believe we should go back to this and how will it enhance the African agenda?

Guest: Prof Mammo Muchie - Research Chair in Innovation Studies Faculty of Economics and Finance at Tshwane University of Technology

Rotarians from throughout Sub-Saharan Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands are in Johannesburg for an international conference with the theme of “World Peace Through Understanding”. How is the Rotary organisation contributing to this theme and what is it exactly that they do?

Yesterday (Tuesday) while talking about different issues on the programme, a few truck drivers phoned in to talk about their conditions of employment and the things they have to deal with on a daily basis. Their cries were almost the same as they felt that nobody was listening to them. Well this morning we get to understand what a truck driver goes through on a daily basis and why they feel ignored…

The Nelson Mandela Children's Hospital will be the home of Radio Lollipop, an international volunteer charity that provides care, comfort, play and entertainment for sick children and young people in hospital. As we know children were dear to Madiba, what role will they be playing at the hospital?

The Durban Business Chamber of Commerce and Industry says it is cracking the whip against unethical business practices. This they say will be done through the launching of a set of business code of ethics. But then how will they monitor that their members will comply to a list? Also what is it that made them come up with this strategy?

Guest: Mr Musa Makhunga - In-coming president of the Durban Business Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Louise Thorpe joins us to discuss innovative teaching and also to explain how technology should be applied to enhance learner-centered education and to encourage creative, self-motivated lifelong learners.

Guests (studio): Louise Thorpe, Senior Director of Consulting & Head of Strategic Services at Blackboard

Dr Dolf Jordaan, Deputy Director: E-Learning & Media Development, Department for Education Innovation at the University of Pretoria (New)

Africa's population is said to be expected to double by 2050 - to two and a half billion. There are pros and cons - a young workforce can produce a "demographic dividend" which can turn around a country's fortunes and lift millions out of poverty, as long as jobs can be created. Africa's fastest growing economy is Ethiopia where there's a grand plan for an industrial revolution to put a young nation to work.

Guest: Prof Mammo Muchie - Research Chair in Innovation Studies Faculty of Economics and Finance at Tshwane University of Technology

How should South Africa deal with its current economic situation? Dennis Belter answers this question and he says in order for South Africa to deliver on its mandate to the poor, the social grant system must change.

Guest: Dennis Belter, Managing Director, Gadomski Consulting Engineers

Often we see a lot of young people go to cities to seek employment and success as the belief is that cities glitter with gold. But these days we know that the dream of pavements glittering with gold was never true to start with. What hope is there for the rural child seeing sometimes how dire the situation is in the homelands?

Guest: Mpho Muthubi – Social Entrepreneur and founder of ‘Empowerment this is it’